Category Book Reviews

Aug 24 2013
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Book Review: Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

4703450Title: Dragon Keeper

Author: Robin Hobb

Series: Rain Wild Chronicles #1

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: Too much time has passed since the powerful dragon Tintaglia helped the people of the Trader cities stave off an invasion of their enemies. The Traders have forgotten their promises, weary of the labor and expense of tending earthbound dragons who were hatched weak and deformed by a river turned toxic. If neglected, the creatures will rampage–or die–so it is decreed that they must move farther upriver toward Kelsingra, the mythical homeland whose location is locked deep within the dragons’ uncertain ancestral memories.

Thymara, an unschooled forest girl, and Alise, wife of an unloving and wealthy Trader, are among the disparate group entrusted with escorting the dragons to their new home. And on an extraordinary odyssey with no promise of return, many lessons will be learned–as dragons and tenders alike experience hardships, betrayals . . . and joys beyond their wildest imaginings.

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The Review:

In my eyes, Robin Hobb is the epitome of an amazing fantasy author. Every element of writing I expect from my books she always delivers brilliantly, and is easily one of my all-time favorite authors. I didn’t think she could do anything to make me love her more… until she wrote a series about dragons!

She has written about dragons before, but takes it to the next level of brilliance in this latest, amazing series: The Rain Wild Chronicles. It follows the life cycle of dragons, makes them just as important as the humanoid protagonists, and celebrates just how beautiful and shall we say unhuman they really are.

I love how well-developed Hobb’s characters are. They always feel like real people, and their flaws make them endearing. What’s great about Dragon Keeper is that she applies that same talent for character development to dragons. I found the whole thing entirely fascinating and loves how much of an active role the dragons had in the story – we even get several chapters from the dragon’s POV.

Part of the reason Hobb’s characters are so memorable is that she takes a lot of time within the story developing them to their fullest. Her novels, while not lacking in either setting, plot, or events, are strongly character-driven. A lot of times the larger scope of the story takes a backseat to the inner conflicts of her characters. I have to say, I’ve never been bored despite the slower pacing. Hobb’s works are like trickles of water running into streams – A bit narrow and unremarkable at first, but eventually growing into raging rivers that give you an exhilarating ride to the end. I have never been anything less than completely engaged, and I absolutely love that about her works.

Overall, if you are a dragon-lover like me and haven’t yet picked this up you’ll kick yourself for waiting so long when you finally do (I know I did).

Recommendations: While this series can be read as a standalone, the characters within are ones we’ve seen before. In fact, this book is the culmination of everything we’ve been working towards in a previous series. Even though dragons don’t play a huge role in the earlier novels, they are still well worth your time to read. The last book in the Tawny Man series was so profound that it was one of the main reasons why I started this blog (I’d read a phenomenal book and had no one to tell… that had to change). :-)

So, if you’d like to start from the beginning (the recommended path) consider following the order below from left to right:

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like: 

Dragon Champion Review

Aug 23 2013
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Coming Soon: The Vegas Valley Book Festival YA Program!

photo I just learned recently that I’ve been given the opportunity to volunteer behind the scenes at this amazing book event! I am doubly excited – not only am I going to meet dozens of amazing authors, but this will also be my first book convention!

 Date: November 2 (10:00 am – 6:30 pm)

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Official website: http://vegasvalleybookfestival.org

Here’s a look at some of the authors who will be attending:

Mark your calendars, this is going to be the event of the season! :-)

Aug 22 2013
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Book Review: Broken Forest by Eliza Tilton

17797999Title: Broken Forest

Author: Eliza Tilton

Series: The Daath Chronicles #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy/Teen Religion

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

The Overview: Hopeless he’ll never be more than the boy who didn’t save his brother, 17-year-old Avikar accepts his life as the family stable boy, trying to forget the past. But when his sister, Jeslyn, is kidnapped, the thought of losing another sibling catapults him on a desperate quest. With his best friend by his side, and using the tracking skills he learned from his father, he discovers Jeslyn has been taken, kidnapped by one Lucino, the young lord of Daath, a mystical place thought only to exist in fables. And Lucino has plans for Jeslyn. His shape-shifting brethren feed off the auras of humans, and Jeslyn’s golden hue is exactly what Lucino needs to increase his power. The longer it takes Avikar to reach her, the more entranced she becomes with Lucino’s world, and the harder it will be for Avikar to set her free.

He failed his family once. He won’t fail again.

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The Review:

I broke my “only request one book from Netgalley at a time” rule for this book (five minutes after I created the rule, but who’s counting). The cover and the overview sold me immediately – how can you resist either one? For the first fifty pages or so, I feel like I got exactly what I signed up for: an amazing adventure, and endearing male protagonist, and a magical setting. Somewhere after that, however, the author made some plot choices that really brought the story down for me.

There were parts that were a bit preachy… and self-righteous. Whether you agree with the morals or not, it’s usually less effective to fling them at people. It was blatant and needlessly so, as I think the author could have easily integrated it into the story a little better. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a theme or moral to your story, you just have to camouflage it because, generally, people don’t enjoy being preached to. The thing I found odd was that the story and characters provided a strong enough moral compass that the book really didn’t even need such heavy-handed drop-ins. And they really were just kind of clunked in there – each “thou shall not…” was delivered in a two-page passage, telling us things are wrong in a way that’s not likely to come across as anything but condescending.

More than once I have found myself reading an ARC because I felt a sense of obligation (rather than any real investment in the story). Imagine my delight when I realized I was picking up this book because I earnestly wanted to, not because I knew I should. About the third time it preached at me, that eagerness had all but vanished and I eventually had to force myself to finish it. All I can say is: what a shame. Tilton is obviously a very talented writer, I just think she decided the moral was more important than the story (which is great for a religious title, not so much for a teen fantasy).

Overall, allegorical stories just aren’t my thing and I probably won’t be picking up the second book. I actually don’t think the heavy moral overtones will bother many other people. I wouldn’t be surprised if the book got several four or five star reviews. It had a nice voice and overall plot, and even a few memorable characters with strong POV’s.

Recommended Reading: for those of you who don’t mind fantasies with religious overtones. Perhaps also to those who love fairytales but are in the mood for something slightly different.

 Other Books you might like:

 Poison Review

Aug 17 2013
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Book Review: Legend by Marie Lu

13042002Title: Legend

Author: Marie Lu

Series: Legend #1

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 5/5 stars!

The Overview: What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

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The Review:

I’d been passing over this novel for several months before someone personally recommended it to me based on the types of books I like… and now I’m kicking myself for not having read it sooner (thank you, Rachel!). It’s probably the best book I’ve read all year and is a strong contender for the #2 spot in my all-time favorite dystopian list (following Hunger Games, of course).

With fast-paced action, two amazing protagonists, and a compelling storyline, Legend really was one of those can’t-put-down books that will have you up half the night finishing it. Sometimes when an author switches back and forth between two POV characters it can steal momentum away from the story and make it more difficult to connect with either one. That was certainly not the case here: both protagonists were complex, well-rounded characters and each switch invested me deeper into the story.

The way the plot was organized helped with this too, and I’m convinced Lu really knows how to tell a story that will keep you at the edge of your seat. Just when you feel like you can’t get more involved with the book, she hits you with something even more gut-wrenching and evoking. I even found myself holding my breath on occasion – you know a book is amazing when it can garner a physical reaction, not just an emotional one.

Another reason I think the book was so effective was the way the characters and the conflicts developed throughout the story. The two main characters are highly intelligent, which means they figure things out faster than the average person. Lu completely committed to this and never once dumbed them down for the sake of drawing out a conflict. This means her story had to keep evolving as the characters made discoveries and formed conclusions. It just speaks of brilliant storytelling, and I think it’s probably my favorite element of the book.

Recommendations: For all of you fellow dystopian fanatics – if you haven’t read this book yet, consider putting it next on your list! I might’ve even liked it a bit more than Divergent, and that’s saying something. I will definitely be rereading it within the next couple of years – and if you could see the size of my TBR pile, you’d know what a commitment that is (I really, really liked it)!

Other books you might like:

 The Fifth Wave Review   •   Divergent Review   •   Partials Review   •   Pure Review

Aug 15 2013
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Book Review: Hexed by Kevin Hearne

9595650Title: Hexed

Author: Kevin Hearne

Series: Iron Druid #2

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

The Overview: Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, doesn’t care much for witches. Still, he’s about to “make nice” with the local coven by signing a mutually beneficial non-aggression treaty—when suddenly the witch population in modern day Tempe, Arizona, quadruples overnight. The new girls are not just bad, they’re badasses with a dark history on the German side of WWII.

With a fallen angel feasting on local high school students, a horde of Bacchants blowing in from Vegas with their special brand of deadly decadence, and a dangerously sexy Celtic goddess of fire vying for his attention, Atticus is having trouble scheduling the witch-hunt. But aided by his magical sword, his neighbor’s rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and his vampire attorney, Atticus is ready to sweep the town and show the witchy women they picked the wrong Druid to hex.

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The Review:

I am happy to report that the second novel had all of the elements I loved about the first one (Hounded). The series is the unique voice in the urban fantasy genre and opens up possibilities for more than just the same old werewolf and vampire plots (as good as they may be). There are so many things done well – world building, character, pacing, adventure, and humor (to name a few) – that I almost have to get nitpick to find any fault with it.

I might be just getting a little impatient but I’m still waiting for some sort of profound character growth and development with the main protagonists. Thus far, he’s kept us readers at arm’s distance and we really haven’t seen him get overly involved emotionally in anything yet. It’s always a “just another day at the job” attitude emitting from him, and he’s such a great character that the author would need to add only a little to make him outstanding.

I think this is sort of why I’m still hoping for a love story to develop – I crave some of that internal conflict to help me really feel for this character. Heck, I would even settle for a sex scene with someone he actually, you know, gives a crap about. At the very least, I want the author to “hang a lantern” on why the protagonists isn’t seeking a mate. Whether it’s fear of losing them or just plain enjoyment of his promiscuity, I want to know. you would think someone who’s been alive for so long would have had love in his past, and I think it’s a too important element of story to continue ignoring completely.

Overall, this has been a highly entertaining series so far and I fully intend to keep recommending it to urban fantasy lovers looking for something different. The concerns in my review are really only minor ones when compared to the whole scheme of things, and the author still has plenty of time to address them in future books. For a more thorough evaluation of the series as a whole (so far), click the link above to read my thoughts on book one.

Recommendations: Hey, all you Harry Dresden fans – I think I just found your next series. :-)

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like: 

Aug 10 2013
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Book Review: Zenn Scarlett by Christian Schoon

16071885Title: Zenn Scarlett

Author: Christian Schoon

Series: Zenn Scarlett #1

Genre: Teen Science Fiction

The Rating: 3/5 stars

The Overview: When you’re studying to be exoveterinarian specializing in exotic, alien life forms, school… is a different kind of animal. Zenn Scarlett is a resourceful, determined 17-year-old girl working hard to make it through her novice year of exovet training. That means she’s learning to care for alien creatures that are mostly large, generally dangerous and profoundly fascinating. Zenn’s all-important end-of-term tests at the Ciscan Cloister Exovet Clinic on Mars are coming up, and, she’s feeling confident of acing the exams. But when a series of inexplicable animal escapes and other disturbing events hit the school, Zenn finds herself being blamed for the problems. As if this isn’t enough to deal with, her absent father has abruptly stopped communicating with her; Liam Tucker, a local towner boy, is acting unusually, annoyingly friendly; and, strangest of all: Zenn is worried she’s started sharing the thoughts of the creatures around her. Which is impossible, of course. Nonetheless, she can’t deny what she’s feeling.

Now, with the help of Liam and Hamish, an eight-foot sentient insectoid also training at the clinic, Zenn must learn what’s happened to her father, solve the mystery of who, if anyone, is sabotaging the cloister, and determine if she’s actually sensing the consciousness of her alien patients… or just losing her mind. All without failing her novice year….

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 The Review:

Because I thoroughly enjoy reading about animals, space, and people learning about things that don’t exist in our reality, I actually enjoyed several elements of this novel. The creatures Zenn took care of were creative and interesting, and I liked how each one had unique biological makeups and temperaments. The medical references on how to treat each animal were also fascinating – I was convinced that either the author knew a bit about veterinary care, or did his research. Overall, I really feel like I got to walk in the shoes of and “exovet,” a career I certainly will never have the chance to experience.

While enjoyable, I think there were some key elements missing from this story – elements that would have taken an enjoyable read into an epic one: conflict and world-building.

I talk about conflict a lot because without it, you really don’t have much of a story. Conflicts are what promotes growth and change in characters and gives readers reasons to stay put and find out how they cope. External conflicts are great for moving your story along and placing outside influence on your characters, but it is the internal conflicts that make characters more relatable and draw the audience in emotionally. There were a ton of external conflicts here (which were fun in their own right) but there wasn’t any internal exploration to give it all meaning and purpose. It’s probably why I’m left feeling like the story didn’t go anywhere – the character grew very little throughout the story and was basically in the same state at the end as she was at the beginning. That’s not to say the internal conflicts weren’t there –  I could see what they were supposed to be – they just weren’t explored or expanded on in any way that drew me in as a reader.

As far as world-building is concerned, I’ll start out by saying I enjoyed many elements in this category (most notably, the overall concept for the story) but there were a few things that needed some work. For example, the economic and political workings of this Mars settlement were a bit thin. Even taking into account that it’s a relatively new establishment compared to that of Earth’s, the conflicts presented in this book should have been a lot more complex and thorough. However, because that wasn’t the real focus of story, I turned a bit of a blind eye to it while reading. Upon reflection, however, I think more time spent developing and enriching the new culture would have enhanced the quality of the story significantly.

Overall, there were several great ideas and concepts here, but also quite a few things holding it back. Maybe it was the cover, but I expected quite a bit more adventure from this novel. The universe is endless with possibilities but the plot here was was rather narrow-focused. I also saw several minor story holes and weak plot points that could have been fixed with basic writing tricks (which included fixing really odd chapter breaks with stronger transitionary sentences and “hooks”). In any case, I enjoyed it but I wish the author had developed it a little further before publishing because I think a few changes could have made it epic.

Recommendations: You don’t see a lot of teen science fiction books, so if you’re in the mood for something “out there” this might suit your craving. It was also neat to experience a day in the life of an exovet – a career that I would consider in an alternate universe, and by far my favorite element of the story. However, if you’re looking for something a little more robust and engaging, this might not be the novel for you.

Other books you might like: